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County presents ACT Saturday pilot: 13‑week on‑demand service saw 359 trips, staff flag driver shortages and $80,000 consultant study proposed
Summary
County transportation staff reported results from a 13‑Saturday pilot of on‑demand weekend service (Aug 2–Oct 25): 359 trips, 471 riders, 96 unique riders; staff said 59% of rides were shared and on‑time performance was 98.6%. They described driver shortages and proposed a Stantec consultant study (about $80,000) to model sustainable service and staffing options.
Los Alamos County transportation staff summarized findings from a 13‑Saturday on‑demand pilot intended to test weekend microtransit and assess demand and operations.
James Barrera, the county transportation manager, said the pilot ran from Aug. 2 to Oct. 25, operating 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays with on‑demand reservations until capacity was reached. Staff reported 359 completed trips across 13 service days, carrying 471 riders; 96 riders used the service repeatedly and 314 new rider profiles were created. The pilot used two service zones and a mobile app; staff said about 75% of trip bookings were made through the app and 25% through dispatch.
Anna Brunson, senior management analyst, presented usage breakdowns and rider surveys. Staff said trip purposes were dominated by shopping and social trips (each about 36% of trips), and that shared rides made up 59% of trips. Operational performance showed a 98.6% on‑time rate. The post‑pilot survey drew 157 respondents; the top reasons residents did not use the service included having a personal car, being out of town and scheduling conflicts. Respondents suggested later service hours, better advertising and shorter pickup windows (staff said pickup windows were reduced from 30 to 15 minutes).
Board members asked about extending hours, converting to fixed routes, and long‑term cost and staffing. Staff said fixed routes remain an option as demand grows but driver shortages and funding are the key constraints. Barrera estimated the pilot operating cost at about $59 per hour. The county said it is currently short three full‑time and two limited‑term drivers, and expects another two‑driver shortfall in the coming weeks; staff described hiring and retention as an ongoing challenge.
To model sustainable weekend service and internal reconfiguration, staff proposed contracting a consultant (Stantec was cited) to perform a service plan and modeling exercise; the consultant scope was described at about $80,000, and staff said they are seeking NMDOT/federal funding to cover most of that cost. Staff noted the county must periodically complete a service plan under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements and said this consultant study would also fulfill that obligation and inform decisions about driver allocation, possible fixed routes and service hours.
Board members debated whether to spend funds on an outside study or to extend the pilot and use county money to directly provide additional service. Staff replied that the consultant will offer a larger systems view — examining weekday route adjustments that could free drivers for consistent weekend service — and that relying on overtime by existing staff is not sustainable long term.
Next steps outlined by staff included seeking consultant funding, conducting modeling work this summer and returning with recommendations about a sustainable service model that could include fixed routes, microtransit or a hybrid approach.
